Lebanon’s difficult economic situation and political instability have seriously affected the daily lives of citizens. One of them is that cars drive without license plates.

Last year, almost all officials of the country’s auto registration were arrested on charges of corruption. It is reported that about 60 workers remain in prison. The Interior Ministry admits that since October the entire service, known as Nafaa in the Beirut area where it is based, has been closed.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that public sector recruitment has been frozen, so workers who have been prosecuted cannot be replaced. In any case, few Lebanese can survive on a typical public sector salary of around $50 a month.

As real wages have collapsed due to runaway inflation, ordinary Lebanese are unwilling to work for next to nothing. Ministries, courts and schools are closed, sometimes for months.

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing serious economic difficulties, which most of the citizens attribute to mismanagement, corruption, indifference and inaction of politicians. As the value of the Lebanese pound collapsed, banks began imposing draconian measures preventing their customers from withdrawing their savings, especially if they were foreign currency deposits.

For the past five months, owners of new and imported cars have not been able to obtain license plates. It also failed to register the sale of used cars. They cannot get a driver’s license or replace the old one.

Meanwhile, the lack of license plates is a particular nuisance for the police and security services. Firstly, it is almost impossible to identify cars without license plates that have been in an accident, not to mention the investigation of those involved in more serious crimes.

After the mass arrests of officials in Nafaa, most of the lucky drivers who somehow managed to register their cars and put up license plates did so only for bribes.

Source: The Economist